Assessment of Biochemical Diversity in Herbal Extracts and Their Effects on the Germination, Growth, and Metabolism of Colchicum kotschyi Boiss. from various regions in Iran

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Faculty of Agriculture, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

2 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Ilam University, Ilam, Iran

3 Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Medicinal Plants and Drugs Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study explored the effects of herbal extracts, derived from naturally occurring field herbs, on the germination, growth, and specific metabolic changes of the significant crop plant Colchicum kotschyi Boiss. The research was conducted in two main sections. First, morphological diversity across various populations of Colchicum was evaluated based on stem length, stamen count, petal number, petal length and breadth. Biochemical profiling using LC-MS identified the presence of non-enzymatic antioxidants in the plant extract, including ascorbic acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and rosmarinic acid, from seven distinct geographic locations. In the second part, a factorial experiment with a randomized complete block design and three replications was implemented to test the effects of Colchicum extract at concentrations of 0%, 50%, and 100% on the germination of wheat, barley, camelina, and weed vetch. Multiple germination and seedling growth parameters were measured, including germination percentage, sprout count, stem and root length, leaf and root number, biomass, and seedling indices. Results showed that 100% extract concentration completely inhibited germination in all plant species across both regions, while control treatments showed maximum germination rates (up to 100%). The highest root length index (24.48) was observed in control wheat and barley seeds, with a dramatic reduction in treated seeds. Principal component analysis revealed that two independent components explained 89.78% of variation. Cluster analysis grouped traits into three and genotypes into two major clusters. Regional differences had minimal influence on germination traits. The findings from both analyses unequivocally confirm the absence of kaempferol in Colchicum petals. Meanwhile, due to the observed effects of ascorbic acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and rosmarinic acid on growth and germination, aqueous extracts from the Ilam and Mishkhas regions were chosen for further study. In conclusion, 100% Colchicum extract strongly suppresses seed germination, suggesting its potential use as a natural bioherbicide for weed control.

Graphical Abstract

Assessment of Biochemical Diversity in Herbal Extracts and Their Effects on the Germination, Growth, and Metabolism of Colchicum kotschyi Boiss. from various regions in Iran

Highlights

  • Significant morphological variation was observed among Colchicum kotschyi.
  • LC-MS analysis identified key bioactive compounds in the extracts, including ascorbic acid, caffeic acid, gallic acid, and rosmarinic acid.
  • Multivariate analysis revealed that two principal components accounted for 89.78% of the total variation. Cluster analysis further validated the findings by effectively grouping traits and genotypes, confirming the consistency of extract effects across different regions.

 

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Agrotechniques in Industrial Crops
Volume 6, Issue 2
Agrotechniques in Industrial Crops (Agrotech Ind Crops) (Online ISSN: 2783-2945)
July 2026
Pages 154-168

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